by Chris Byrnes
The Swiss NLA playoffs got underway on the weekend with the first place Zurich Barracudas (20-5) taking on the fourth place Luzern Eagles (12-11) in the semi-final series. The season series was won by the Barracudas 3-2 but the Eagles were the only team to defeat the Barracudas two times so this figured to be a very competitive series.
In game one, the Barracudas gave the ball to their veteran starter Roger Savoldelli who was coming of his 100th complete game in the NLA. The Eagles gave the ball to Swiss National pitcher Andrea Girasole. It was the Eagles who scored first when Sami Pauline led off with a single and advanced to 3rd base when Savodelli through wide of 1st base on a pickoff attempt. Michael Settle drove a high fly to centerfielder Harry Wischnewski to score Paulino with the game’s first run.
Andrea Girasole kept the Barracudas in check keeping the Cudas hitless for the first four innings. The Barracudas loaded the bases in the first, third and fifth innings taking advantage of six walks by Girasole but the Swiss National pitcher was able to bear down and get out of trouble every time. Unfortunately for Girasole the Barracudas made him work increasing his pitch count going into the sixth inning.
The Eagles scored another run in the 5th inning when Rudi Vargas lead off with a single through the left side. The next batter Tom Enz took advantage of a ball left up in the zone and he deposited the ball into the left center gap for a double. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and no outs Savoldelli got the next batter to strike out but Edwin Martinez hit a ground ball to short and the Barracudas allowed the run to score and caught Enz in no man’s land between 2nd and 3rd base for the out.
The Barracudas offense was determined in the 6th inning scoring four runs to take a 4-2 lead. Bert Marsnik lead off with a single but Girasole battled back to strike out the next two Barracuda batters. Girasole looked like he was going to escape trouble again but he walked Andi Rüesch and Harry Wischnewski to load the bases with two outs. Chris Michals came to the plate for the Barracudas. Girasole first pitch was low in the dirt and Alex Tifa Cruz could not handle and Marsnik scored the Barracudas first run. With runners on 2nd and 3rd base the Eagles chose to pitch to Michals who made them pay for that when he delivered a double to score both runners. Michals advanced to 3rd base on the play when the throw to 2nd base got away. Michals scored on a balk to make the score 4-2.
The Barracudas added four more runs in the 7th and another run in the 8th to make the score 9-2. Roger Savodelli was on cruise control the entire evening giving up only six hits, no walks and only one earned run to get the win.
Game 2
On Sunday the Barracudas travelled to Luzern for the rematch game. The Barracudas had lost twice in Luzern during the season and knew this would be a battle.
The Barracudas sent Chris Michals and his 7-0 record to the mound while the Eagles sent Mario Idelfonso to the mound. Once again the Eagles scored first when leadoff batter Sami Paulino hit a home run to centerfield. The Eagles scored again in the 2nd inning when Yanik Probst smoked a line drive in the gap for a double and Rafael Strub singled through the left side to score Probst and take an early 2-0 lead.
The Eagles pitcher Mario Idelfonso left the game after three innings with an arm injury and Michael Settle came in relief to keep the Barracudas bats quiet until the 7th inning. Going into the 7th inning with the score 2-0 in favor of the Eagles the Barracudas went to work. Harry Wischnewski led off by getting hit by pitch and Chris Michals drilled the ball off the right center fence just missing a home run to place runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Settle got the next batter to ground out with the infield in but was not able to get the bus drive Josh Crouse who singled to score both runners to tie the game at 2-2.
With two outs in the bottom of the 7th the Eagles Yanik Probst singled and stole second base. The throw got by and went into the outfield and Probst tried to score but was thrown out by Harry Wischnewski at the plate to end the inning.
In the top of the 9th inning once again Harry Wischnewski led off with a hit by pitch and Chris Michals walked. The next batter Nelson Santana hit a single to the left side and Wischnewski came sprinting home to take the 3-2 lead.
The Eagles mounted a rally in the bottom of the 9th when Michael Settle was hit by pitch and Alex Tifa Cruz walked. Rudi Vargas came to the plate looking to tie the game but Michals induced a ground ball out for the first out. Tom Enz stepped to the plate and hit a bouncer back to Michals who executed the 1-6-3 double play to end the game. Chris Michals earned the win giving up only 5 hits and two earned runs.
The Barracudas lead the best of five series 2 games to none. The next game is in Zurich on Saturday evening. The Barracudas will send Andi Rüesch to the mound to face Andrea Girasole.